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72

The Organic Coffee Co.

Sumatra Mandheling

Roaster Location: Boulder, Colorado
Roast Level: Medium-Dark
Agtron: 43/47
Review Date: November 1997
Aroma: 5
Acidity: 5
Body: 5
Flavor: 4

Blind Assessment

"Distinct fruity, pruny carbon tones; not much else," I wrote the first time I cupped this coffee. I used almost the same words the second time around. Simply not enough going on here. The carbon is not the thin, burned-out sensation of overdone French roasts, by the way. More the taste of very dark toast with a memory of marmalade.

Notes

Tastes of very dark toast with a memory of marmalade, a simple profile. Certified organically grown.

Who Should Drink It

Environmentalists who like carbon with complication. It's sad how far Sumatra has fallen in the world of coffee. Perhaps Sumatras have become too popular and there aren't enough good ones to go around. Plus, in the world of organics Sumatra buyers face the certification paradox. Almost all Sumatras are de facto organically grown, but only one or two sources are certified, and those sources may not always deliver the best.

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Click here for more reviews from The Organic Coffee Co.


This review originally appeared in the November, 1997 tasting report: Environment-Friendly Coffees

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